Author: Ousmane Tandja

Journalist

Behind the senegalese budget standoff: how pastef’s internal revolt could derail fmi deal and eurobond plans

Ousmane Tandja

The Unseen Forces Shaping Senegal’s Financial Crisis The November 3 vote wasn’t just another legislative setback—it was a rebellion brewing within the ruling party itself. With 109 votes against, 20 in favor, and 3 abstentions, Senegalese lawmakers approved a preliminary motion tabled by the Pastef party, effectively killing any further debate on the 2026 supplementary budget law. This wasn’t the first time the proposal had been rejected; it had already failed twice in the finance committee back in October. In a parliament where the ruling party holds 130 of the…

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Haiti’s military turn to Africa: Benin’s expertise under scrutiny after Port-au-Prince talks

Ousmane Tandja

Public and institutional reactions to the Benin-Haiti security partnership As armed gangs extend their control across key Haitian territories, the crisis has sparked intense debate within Port-au-Prince’s political and military circles. The proposed military cooperation with Benin, while seen as a pragmatic response, has divided public opinion between those advocating for outside expertise and skeptics warning against over-reliance on foreign models. Officials, however, emphasize the urgency of bolstering Haiti’s operational capabilities amid collapsing state authority. The strategic stakes of Benin’s military cooperation Haiti’s deepening security vacuum has left its institutions…

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Haïti and Benin’s military talks: what next for regional security cooperation?

Ousmane Tandja

The fallout from Haiti’s deepening security crisis continues to ripple across the Caribbean and West Africa, with Benin now at the center of a renewed debate over regional military cooperation. The two-day visit to Cotonou by Haiti’s top military commander, Lieutenant-General Derby Guerrier, has reignited discussions about potential Beninese support in Port-au-Prince’s struggle against armed gangs and collapsing institutions. Will Benin finally answer Haiti’s call for security assistance? Since the Haitian government first floated the idea of international military intervention two years ago, the conversation has been mired in logistical…

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After Wagner: how Africa’s military suppliers face shifting power dynamics

Ousmane Tandja

Behind the headlines: the real leaders in Africa’s arms supply race As Russian influence wanes and global powers recalibrate their strategies, a fierce debate is unfolding across Africa about who truly supplies the continent’s militaries. The narrative of Moscow as the dominant force in African security partnerships is crumbling under scrutiny—and the data tells a different story. Who really leads in African military imports? The latest figures from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), covering 2021 to 2025, paint a clear picture: the United States tops the continent’s arms…

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Togo’s debt dilemma: why borrowing limits spark national debate

Ousmane Tandja

The tipping point: can Togo keep borrowing without destabilizing its economy? The government of Togo faces growing scrutiny as it navigates the fine line between financing development and avoiding a debt spiral. With public debt reaching 60.2% of GDP by mid-2026—just 9.8 percentage points below the 70% ceiling set by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)—the debate over sustainable borrowing has intensified. While the ratio has improved slightly from 62.8% at the end of 2025, the absolute debt figure tells a different story. Central government debt rose from…

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Midterm elections looming: Trump’s last-minute military strike draws mixed reactions as voters weigh consequences

Ousmane Tandja

At the eleventh hour: Trump’s strike in Hormuz stirs controversy amid midterm races The days leading up to the U.S. midterm elections have been marked by high-stakes political maneuvering—and now, military action in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Just hours before voters head to the polls, the Trump administration authorized precision strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, particularly on Qeshm Island. Advocates of the move frame it as a defensive measure to curb escalating threats, but critics argue it risks inflaming tensions at a pivotal…

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Ukraine war fallout: how Russia’s mercenary recruitments spark outrage across Africa

Ousmane Tandja

The backlash grows: African governments demand Moscow halt controversial war recruitment The recent pledge by Accra to extract a formal commitment from Moscow to stop recruiting Ghanaian fighters for Ukraine reads less like a diplomatic victory and more like a damning admission of a transnational human trafficking ring operating with impunity. Behind closed doors and empty diplomatic platitudes, evidence now confirms that hundreds of young Africans—lured by hollow promises of wealth and European passports—have been sent into the Ukrainian frontlines as expendable cannon fodder. For Ghana alone, the human cost…

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How Ousmane Sonko is demystifying Senegal’s public policies for every citizen

Ousmane Tandja

How Ousmane Sonko is demystifying Senegal’s public policies for every citizen Behind every complex policy lies a fundamental question: how can citizens not just understand these strategies but actively shape them? Ousmane Sonko has turned this challenge into a mission, demonstrating how technical governance can be translated into concrete citizen action through a powerful blend of transparency and engagement. From technical jargon to citizen comprehension: the art of policy translation Government policies often resemble complex engineering blueprints—detailed, precise, and vital to the nation’s infrastructure. Yet, when these documents are filled…

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Togo’s constitutional reform under scrutiny: ECOWAS demands accountability and future implications

Ousmane Tandja

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reignited pressure on Togo to address the fallout from its controversial constitutional reforms, sparking a new round of public debate over governance, power consolidation, and the country’s political trajectory. A recent letter from the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice to the Togolese Minister of Justice demands clarity on steps taken to implement a January 2026 ruling that found the government in violation of democratic principles. ECOWAS court reignites scrutiny over Togo’s constitutional changes The ECOWAS Court’s October 2026 correspondence marks another…

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Gold rush gone wrong: Burkinabè miners caught between Burkina Faso’s crisis and Guinea’s crackdown

Ousmane Tandja

Escaping persecution only to face exploitation and sudden expulsion: this is the grim fate awaiting young Burkinabè miners seeking survival in Guinea’s unregulated goldfields. Last week’s sweeping raids by Guinean security forces—targeting artisanal mining sites in Siguiri, including Kouremalé, Djatéla, and Bouré-Kourda—have left hundreds stranded, their fragile livelihoods reduced to ashes. What began as a desperate quest for refuge has spiraled into a human tragedy, exposing the harsh realities behind Africa’s so-called golden promises. The exodus from Burkina Faso’s collapsing security landscape To understand why thousands of young Burkinabè risked…

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Bénin’s 2026 cotton intensification pilot: public skepticism and high stakes for 2033 goals

Ousmane Tandja

As Benin prepares for the 2026-2027 cotton season, a controversial pilot program is sparking intense debate about the future of the country’s agricultural sector. The government’s ambitious intensification plan, set to launch during the 2026 short rainy season, aims to dramatically boost cotton yields—but public reactions and logistical challenges are already casting doubt on its feasibility. Public reaction and skepticism overshadow the pilot program The government’s announcement of the intensification pilot has divided stakeholders across Benin’s cotton industry. While some producers and agricultural experts praise the initiative as a necessary…

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UN security council deadlock leaves Western Sahara at a crossroads

Ousmane Tandja

The United Nations Security Council found itself locked in a sharp diplomatic impasse on October 30, 2026, after two competing resolutions on Western Sahara failed to secure the necessary support. The clash between Washington and Moscow over the future of the disputed territory has exposed deep divisions within the Council, leaving the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and its mandate in limbo as the clock ticks toward a critical deadline. US proposal pushes Morocco’s autonomy plan to the forefront The US-backed draft resolution aimed to…

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